Blakes 7 - 0101 - The Way Back [ home ] [ prev ] [ next ]
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Author: Terry Nation
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Director: Michael Briant [ IMDB ] |
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Excerpt from Blakes 7: The Program Guide by Tony Attwood Roj Blake meets two colleagues who persuade him to go illegally outside the dome in which they live on Earth. The aim is for Blake to meet former colleagues of whom, strangely, he has no memory. Blake's friends inform him that he was once a major resistance leader but after capture had his mind re-programmed so that he would renounce his old colleagues and give evidence against them. Blake goes outside and attends a rebels' meeting, but hides when guards appear and kill everyone present. Blake escapes only to be recaptured upon re-entering the city, where he is put on trial for a seris of crimes against children. Despite the fact that the evidence is completely fabricated, he is found guilt and sentenced to transportation to the planet Cygnus Alpha. Blake's defence attorney becomes uneasy about certain aspects of the trial and starts to investigate on his own. He gradually comes up with evidence to prove not only Blake's innocence but also the complete fabrication of the evidence against him by senior Administration officials, which he takes before a superior, who turns out to be fully implicated in the invention of the evidence against Blake. Whilst continuing to try to gather information to clear Blake, the attorney is murdered by Federation guards. Whilst Blake is waiting to board the space ship to Cygnus Alpha, he meets Jenna and Vila for the first time. Blake is still hoping for a reprieve when time runs out and the ship takes off. As the ship leaves Earth, Blake vows to return some day. Review 11/28/2004 by ledlogic Roj Blake shares something in common with Douglas Quaid/Hauser from Total Recall [IMDB], they both have purportedly had their true pasts erased from their minds by a future neurotechnology. Roj Blake, like Quaid, was involved with a resistance organization, but neither of the characters realizes their past roles. They are both informed of their past status by others who teach them about their past personae. Yet, Roj Blake's Terran future is not controlled by corporations as Douglas Quaid's is. Instead it is more similar to a THX-1138/We/Brave New World governmental order, called the Federation. This is in contrast to a theoretical benevolent world order, the Federation of the Star Trek Television series is a farcical utopia where overpopulation, hunger, have been eliminated (at least they claim to be from their career officer and Federation spokesman Captain Jean-Luc Picard.) This Federation tries to maintain supremacy over numerous colonies spread over several planets. Earth is not the only enclave of the human species. In parallels, THX-1138, and Brave New World it is not clear if mankind has colonized space. In We, it seems as though the Integral may be the first manned spacecraft altogether. Looking at a political map in 2004, I suspect it must be hard to govern the whole Earth let alone Earth plus fifteen colonies. A similar theme in these stories is that the repressed humanity and rebelliousness that is part of these characters' psyche, cannot be erased. Though they don't know the specifics of who they were, like a light being switched on, they realize when people's freedoms are being trampled upon and rise to stop those who would oppress. In Quaid's case, we are not sure if he really was the good guy or the bad guy trying to counterespionage into the good guy's organization. But in defining the answer to his own question, "Who the hell am I?", he becomes the hero. Perhaps when starting with a clean slate, despising the situation that sits before their eyes, wise people end up doing the right thing. None of the characters introduced in the Blakes 7 series is a perfect role model. But in the context of a corrupt system, would not the heroes be considered the protagonists, from the mainstream perspective? Yet somehow through it all, they band together realizing that they all have a need others with different skills for survival. The Blakes 7 crew represents a more real-life crew of people with different personalities than you would see in some science fiction. Other series stifle character independence in the interest of teamwork. The binds that keep the Blakes 7 crew together seem like they could break at any time. In a sense too, the character interaction is a little more interested, more ala Star Wars than Star Trek. In this early episode some of the lines sounded rushed. Prior to the meeting outside of the rebels, it sounds like they could have done a few more takes to get the lines right, but they probably had some time constraints with the large cast of extras. Script from hal9000.net.au (c) 1977 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a complete dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1994 by Susan Clerc, Micky DuPree, Carol Reed and Susan Beth Schnitger. Dramatis Personae
Uncredited:
Walk-ons:
NOTE: ______ = unintelligible [A security camera monitors a sterile white hallway. Thoroughout this scene other people pass through the area in a lackadaisical, "out of it" manner while the P.A. broadcasts soothing music and announcements. Blake stops and looks around before moving on]
P.A.: Attention. Level thirty-eight walkways will be closed for
one hour. Level thirty-eight cardholders must report to
Central immediately.
--------------------------------------------------------- 3. ML563/MIN 4. ML563/MIN INCITE CORRUPT ACTS 5. ML563/MIN COMMIT CORRUPT ACTS 6. CR236/PER KIDNAPPING 7. CR192/PER ASSAULT 8. CR193/PER INTENT TO INJURE 9. CR193/PER CAUSE ACTUAL INJURY 10. CR333/SEC RESIST ARREST 11. ML100/DEV MORAL DEVIANCE guilty of all charges ----------------------------------------------------------[The last line blinks] His crimes have been accorded a Category Nine rating, and as such are adjudged most grave. In sentencing you, the judgment machine has taken into account your past record, your service to the state, and your loyalty to the Federation. None of these have mitigated in your favor. It is the sentence of this tribunal that you be taken from this place to an area of close confinement. From there you will be transported to the penal colony on the planet Cygnus Alpha, where you will remain for the rest of your natural life. This matter is ended. BLAKE: I wish to make a statement. ARBITER: There can be no more said regarding this case. The matter has been assessed and judgment made. BLAKE: But the evidence is false. These charges are lies. ARBITER: If you have any complaint against the conduct of this tribunal, it must be directed through your advocate. BLAKE: You've got to listen to me. [Guard injects him and as he passes out he sees Tarrant. Blake's memories are again shown under Foster's voice] FOSTER: [V.O.] They erased areas of your mind, they implanted new ideas. They literally took your mind to pieces and rebuilt it. And when they'd finished, they put you up and you confessed. You said you'd been "misguided." You appealed to everyone to support the Administration, hound up the traitors. Oh, they, they did a good job on you. You were very convincing. And then they took you back and erased even that. [Transit cell] PRISONER: [Screams as she is dragged along by guards] Let me go! Let me go! No! No! No! No! Let me go! Let me go! No! No! No! No! Let me go! [Jenna follows the scene from behind the bars and then walks between the cots and watches Vila steal the unconscious Blake's watch. As Vila reaches for more, Blake comes to and pushes him away. Jenna observes their exchange] VILA: Easy! Take it easy! I hate personal violence, especially when I'm the person. BLAKE: Who are you? VILA: I'm Vila Restal. [They shake hands] BLAKE: Where are we? VILA: In a transit cell. BLAKE: I don't understand. VILA: You're on your way to the penal colony on Cygnus Alpha. Or you will be when the prison ship's refueled. Try to look on the bright side. It must have something. None of the guests have ever left early. In fact, none of them have ever left at all. BLAKE: Why are you going there? VILA: They didn't give me a choice. I steal things. Compulsive, I'm afraid. I've had my head adjusted by some of the best in the business. But it just won't stay adjusted. BLAKE: A professional thief. VILA: More a vocation than a profession. Other people's property comes naturally to me. JENNA: [Sits down next to Blake. To Blake] What's the time? VILA: [Hands the watch back. To Blake] Just taking care of it while you were unconscious. The place is full of criminals. BLAKE: [To Jenna] Thanks. VILA: [Indicating her] Jenna. BLAKE: [Also to her] Blake. JENNA: What's your story? BLAKE: Well, I'm innocent -- of what I was charged with anyway. VILA: We have something in common, then. We're all victims of a miscarriage of justice. BLAKE: It's true! JENNA: Of course it is. BLAKE: What about the others? VILA: Oh, a very antisocial bunch. Murderers, liars, cheats [Looks at Jenna] ... smugglers ... JENNA: [To Vila] -- thieves -- VILA: -- and they're the nice people. BLAKE: How long before we take off? JENNA: About twenty-four hours. If you're expecting a last-minute reprieve you'd better forget it. [Her hand is in his hair] Once they get you this far there's no going back. You'd better get used to the idea. Nobody out there gives a damn about you. [She nudges his head] [Varon's quarters. Varon clears his throat in the doorway and Maja turns in bed] MAJA: What time is it? VARON: Late. MAJA: Come to bed. [He does and they kiss] VARON: There's something wrong, you know. MAJA: Blake. VARON: Mmm. The prosecution evidence was so complete that I accepted it. I assumed Blake was guilty and concentrated on justification and appeals for mercy. MAJA: Well, what else could you do? You interviewed all the victims, the witnesses. None of them had any doubts. VARON: Perhaps they should have. [kisses her again] MAJA: What do you mean? VARON: I don't know. Perhaps Blake is guilty. Even so it's ... too perfect. MAJA: Where are you going? VARON: The Public Records computer. MAJA: To look for what? VARON: I don't know. MAJA: Give me one minute and I'll come with you. [Public Records Office. The operator is very involved in listening to music on a sort of walkman with glasses] VARON: I'm Tel Varon with the Justice Department. I want to run a check on the medical records of those children. [Lays a piece of paper on his desk] OPERATOR: It'll have to wait until morning. VARON: I want them now. [Shows ID] [The operator grudgingly complies] OPERATOR: Alpha three-three-seven five. C-six-one-two: Leesal, Renor. [As they are called out, each record appears on a large screen on the wall across from the operator's desk: =================================== 02247/1520 A 3375 C612 LEESAL RENOR BD GRP. BG (AN) TEMP. 94.8 p/80 X42. .1.5. B2 MATERNITY 731814 11 DR. A.J. GLOBBS 812714 X42. .4.3. VAC AD NA 713094 X42. .10.6. CARD. CX 617 X43. .5.3. 1 TNA VMA 902 X45. .1.5. C27 714 X46. .5.3. X TR 107 X49. .3.7. P CR 202 =================================== OPERATOR: Three-four-one-seven: Deca, Carl. Three-five-one-two: Fen, Payter. =================================== 02247/1521 A 3375 C417 DEC BD GRP BG (AN) TEMP 94.8 p/80 X43. .6.2. B6 MATERNITY 731224 DR. PAINTER HAMER 812597 X43. 10.11 VAC AD XX PA 713132 X48. .4.3. BLT TREAT Z 093 X48. .8.8. BLT C P2 618 =================================== 02247/1522 A 3375 C512 FEN PAYTER BD GRP BG A TEMP 94.8. pulse 82 X43. .2.1. B4 MATERNITY 731002 DR. CAEN VEN 812753 X43. .8.4. VAC AD CA 713913 X44. .5.3. CHEST A 52 512 X46. .7.3. 1 TV (RG2) 912 X47. .6.8. 6 AST 2163 X48. .4.4. LR2 TLO 107 X49. .7.5. MLO (M UNIT) 3257 =================================== VARON: [To Maja] Nothing. Admissions to clinic, treatment records. It all tallies with the evidence. [To operator] Let me have the school attendance records on those three. OPERATOR: Alpha three-three-seven-seven: Leesal, Renor. [Each record appears in turn on the screen] =================================== 02247/1523 A 3377 C612 LEESAL RENOR SCHOOL ZL 2 LEVEL 716 HT SAYL N. X48.1 .48 .6.3 ..** X49 X51 ------------------- X52 =================================== VARON: [To Maja] Well that's interesting. He was absent from school on the afternoon before the assault. OPERATOR: C-four-one-seven: Deca, Carl. =================================== 0 2247/1524 A 3377 C417 DECA CARL SCHOOL ZL 14 LEVEL 552 MA LONEY 9. .3.6 . .6 ----- 6. 24 1. .3 .8. 12 .2. .6 =================================== MAJA: So was he. OPERATOR: C-five-one-two: Fen, Payter. =================================== 02247/1525 A 3377 C 512 FEN PAYTER SCHOOL ZL 3 LEVEL 417 HT VARN 9. .3 17 . .8 ----- 8. 25 .3 6. 17 62. . =================================== VARON: [To Maja] Well that makes it more than a coincidence. Now where were they? [To operator] Give me the admissions to the Central Clinic on that day. OPERATOR: Alpha zero-zero-two-eight-eight Alpha. [Screen flashes red] MAJA: What's the matter? OPERATOR: The information has been classified. It can be obtained by the priority three clearance. VARON: But I need that information. OPERATOR: Not possible. [Maja hands Varon a brooch] VARON: Look, the Justice Department can get a clearance [Places the brooch on the desk] but it takes time. OPERATOR: This didn't happen, of course. VARON: No, of course it didn't. [Operator pushes more buttons and records again appear on the screen] VARON: Look at that: outpatient admission, identity unrecorded. And there's another. And a third. MAJA: Three unidentified admissions on the date the victims weren't at school. VARON: It's not absolute proof, but it gives us somewhere to start. MAJA: But why would they have been to the clinic? VARON: Mental implantation? MAJA: What's that? VARON: A fictional experience and emotion, implanted into the mind so vividly and permanently that it becomes reality. MAJA: Is that possible? VARON: The process was perfected years ago, but prohibited by the medical profession. But if it is being used again -- MAJA: Blake could be telling the truth. VARON: And that could blow the top off the whole Administration. Come on. MAJA: Where are we going? [They exit] OPERATOR: [Into comm] Security. [Transit cell. Varon and Maja talk to Blake through the bars. Jenna watches from the side. Vila sidles up and startles her, earning a dirty look] VARON: The meeting place -- how did you get to it? BLAKE: I, I don't know. It was dark. VARON: Which exit did you use? BLAKE: Sub forty-three. VARON: Forty-three -- that would be on the north side. All right, where did you go from there? BLAKE: Well, we walked for about three miles. There was a stream. VARON: Is there anything else you can tell us? BLAKE: Yes, there was a man. I saw him in court just before I passed out. MAJA: What about him? BLAKE: Well, I'd seen him before, at the meeting. I, I thought he was one of them. He must have betrayed them. His name was Tarrant. VARON: Dev Tarrant? BLAKE: Do you know him? VARON: He works in the Outer Worlds most of the time. He's in Security. BLAKE: He's a murderer. VARON: Then he'll come to trial like everyone else in this coverup. BLAKE: And what about me? VARON: Well, first I'm going to talk to my superior and get a holding order on you so that at least you can stay here on Earth while I investigate. BLAKE: You haven't got much time. VARON: With luck I'll get you taken back to the city detention area within -- couple of hours. BLAKE: Thanks. VARON: Listen, I, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I'll be in touch. [He and Maja leave] [Jenna and Vila approach Blake] VILA: Friends in high places? Can't you put a word in for me? BLAKE: I'll try and think of one. JENNA: Leaving us? BLAKE: I hope so. [Vila chuckles. Blake to Jenna.] Nothing personal. Why are you here? You didn't tell me. JENNA: I was trading 'round the Near Worlds. I'm a free trader. VILA: A smuggler. She's a big name. It's an honor to be locked up with her. JENNA: I'm glad you're pleased. P.A.: [V.O. male] Attention security personnel. Launch is advanced to seventeen hundred hours Earth time. That is all. VILA: That's about eight hours. [Glynd's office] VARON: Well, it looks to me as though we've all been used. It wasn't Morag's fault of course, but the prosecution case was based on a very well-organized deception. GLYND: But why? VARON: Well, Blake claims he was arrested after he went Outside. GLYND: Outside? VARON: Yeah, about three miles beyond sub forty-three. GLYND: What did he go Outside for? VARON: An anti-Administration meeting. He says everyone there was murdered by security forces. GLYND: Leaving him a sole survivor? VARON: No, and, and a security agent named Tarrant. He says Tarrant organized the massacre. GLYND: Ah, I can't believe that. Still, it will bear examination. VARON: Then you'll order an inquiry? GLYND: Yes. You've raised a reasonable doubt. The whole matter must now be investigated. VARON: Thank you. GLYND: Now go home and get some rest. VARON: Not yet. I, I'd like your authority to go Outside the city. GLYND: To look for those tunnels? No, I'll have a team make a survey of the area. VARON: All right. And Blake's holding order? GLYND: You leave everything to me. Go home and get some sleep. You've done as much as you can. [Varon exits office and joins Maja in the hall outside and the scene now cuts between the office and hallway as Varon and Maja eavesdrop] MAJA: Is he going to be all right? VARON: Something ... there's something not ... "to look for those tunnels" ... I didn't say anything about tunnels. MAJA: What? GLYND: [Into phone] Link me with Dr. Havant, Central Clinic. HAVANT: [V.O. over comm] Doctor Havant. GLYND: Ven Glynd. I think we may have a problem. Might be best if you were unavailable for a few days. HAVANT: [V.O.] Is it a very serious problem? GLYND: No, no, no, nothing that can't be handled. HAVANT: [V.O.] I'll take a few days leave and stay at home. GLYND: Good. Arrange to take calls only from me. Goodbye. [Breaks link] MAJA: What does it mean? VARON: It's obvious. He's involved. MAJA: Then where do we go from here? VARON: Higher up. Even to the President if we have to. But if we're going to make accusations against Glynd we'll need the strongest possible evidence. P.A.: [V.O.] A limited supply of protein ___ are now available from the ___ section of the food dispensing units. [Varon and Maja enter a room] VARON: I'm going to try something. [Opens comm link] Central Clinic, Doctor Havant. [To Maja] Tell them it's Glynd. HAVANT: [V.O. over comm] Doctor Havant. MAJA: Doctor Havant, I have Glynd for you. VARON: Sorry to call you again, but are there any clinical records about the matter? Treatment charts, medical notes? HAVANT: [V.O.] Yes, of course. They're in my office. You want them? VARON: Yes, I'd like to have a look at them. Leave them at reception and I'll have them picked up. HAVANT: [V.O.] I'll get my assistant to bring them down now. VARON: Thanks. Goodbye. HAVANT: [V.O.] Goodbye. [Breaks link] VARON: We've got them. You go to the clinic and pick up the records, then go home and collect the tape camera. MAJA: Where are you going? VARON: To talk to a thief and borrow a lockpick. I'll meet you in two hours at sub forty-three. [Transit cell. Blake and Jenna are standing at the bars] JENNA: You're running out of time. BLAKE: They've had long enough to issue a holding order. JENNA: It's a long process, formalities. Don't worry, they'll get it. I wish someone was working for me. Till now it doesn't seem real. Now it's getting close, I'm getting scared. [Sub forty-three. Maja descends the staircase and looks around] VARON: Maja. [She turns] Did you get everything? MAJA: [Nods and hands it over] And there are the records from the hospital. VARON: Good. [Examines them] Yes, we can build a case on these. MAJA: Did you get what you wanted? VARON: Come and see. MAJA: I've never been Outside before. VARON: I have, years ago. I didn't like it much; it's very strange. [An alarm sounds, apparently back at security. A trooper sits down at a keyboard much like that for the Public Records computer and Varon and Maja appear on his viewscreen. He pushes some buttons] [Outside the city. Vaja and Varon approach the entrance to the tunnels.] [Transit cell. A guard is prodding the prisoners to move] GUARD: All right, listen to me, all of you. Move out of here in single file into the embarkation channel. Come on, let's get started. Move! [Rousts Jenna] You! Come on. Move! Out. Pick up your bag. Go! Come on, faster, move. [To Blake]I said move. Single file! With one behind the other. Keep them in line, guards. You in front, move! [In the tunnel. Varon and Maja find the corpses] VARON: Stay here. I'll, uh, I'll search the bodies and get picture tapes. [He pulls out a camera and begins recording] [Exterior of the London] [The London. The prisoners shuffle in. Blake takes a seat by the window] VILA: [In the background as the guard is yelling] ___ it's going to be a very very long eight months I'm telling you ___ Do you know how to work these harnesses? you just stick it in here ___ it's going to be a very very very long eight months GUARD: All right, come on, move. Keep moving. Come on, faster. Keep your voice down. Find the seat that's allocated to you and sit in it. Fasten the harness. Stand by for liftoff. Keep your voices down. You, fasten your harness. You, down in the front. That's your seat. Come on, move. You, stop talking. Fasten your harness. BLAKE: How long before liftoff? GUARD: You in a hurry to get there? JENNA: Don't worry. There's still time. [Tunnel. Varon finishes recording and rejoins Maja] VARON: I've got everything we need. MAJA: Enough to keep Blake here on Earth? VARON: More than enough. [Exterior shot of the London] [The London. Blake has not buckled his harness and the guard approaches him] GUARD: You different to everyone else? Fasten your harness. BLAKE: What? GUARD: Hn. Maybe we can help you hear better. You can start with a couple of hours confinement. You'll be surprised how quickly your hearing improves. [to guard near a control panel] Seat eleven, confinement! [the other guard presses a few buttons. Blake's seat spins away from the window and constraints emerge from the sides to encircle him] [Exterior of the London taking off] [Outside. Tarrant and two troopers watch as the London blasts off past the dome] TARRANT: [turns to look down at the ground] I think a transporter accident. Killed instantly. Very tragic. [To troopers] See to it, will you? [One of the troopers nods. The camera shifts to reveal the corpses of Varon and Maja lying on the ground] [Exterior shot of the London] [The London. Blake cranes his neck to look out the window at Earth and the moon] GUARD: Take a long look. That's the last you'll ever see of it. BLAKE: No, I'm coming back. |